A show-stopper of a restaurant in Staten Island's Great Kills community

Photo courtesy of Joseph GulinoJoseph Gulino stands with his fiancee, Jennifer Gennaro, inside his Gulino's Buona Pasta Ristorante in Great Kills. Gulino purchased the restaurant four years ago, and has incorporated a variety of special packages and live events to enhance the dining experience.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- GREAT KILLS -- When Joseph Gulino bought into the restaurant business, he didn't know much about the industry.

Four years later, Gulino's Buona Pasta Ristorante has found itself at the center of the borough's culinary landscape, thanks to creatively structured menus and the promise of live entertainment.

"When they come in, I want it to be an experience that people won't soon forget," said the Great Kills restaurateur of his thriving enterprise. "There's a million mom and pop places in Staten Island, but only a handful like mine. It's a passion."

Gulino's path to Buona Pasta is interesting.

Born in Oakwood, he began as a teacher before opening a women's wear shop, which he operated for a decade.

After selling the store, Gulino returned to education, taking a position as an eighth-grade math teacher at Cavallaro Junior High School in Brooklyn.

Always looking for something new, he reconnected with his longtime love of athletics and took over the junior varsity baseball team at Monsignor Farrell High School, Oakwood.

That wasn't enough, though, and in 2005, Gulino decided to put a little more on his plate -- literally.

He began working with Buona Pasta's then-owner Meto Ardolic. For six months, he learned the ins-and-outs of the restaurant before taking it over completely.

"It was a long-standing restaurant with a large following," said Gulino of the location, which was originally opened by Artie Lee as Ruffino's in the 1970s. "I ate there when I was a kid."

In the short time that Gulino has been on the other side of the counter, Buona Pasta has become a place with something for everyone.

According to Gulino, the food is prepared by chef Leonardo Rodriguez, formerly of Nardino's, Amelia's and other Italian restaurants, and it's "legendary."

"But I want to see people enjoying an easily priced meal," he said.

So, in addition to its usual weekend dinner specials, Buona Pasta offers an early-bird dinner menu for $12 and four-course meals for $18 during the week. There's even a free dinner package for kids 10-and-under on weekdays.

A bigger draw than some discounted meals, though, is the atmosphere.

"Buona Pasta is at the forefront of entertainment, with a constant variety of acts including Sinatra nights, Elvis nights and comedy shows with national talents like Sheila Kay, Bob Luprello and Mark De Mayo," said Gulino.

Those shows come with a three-course dinner and cost just $30 a person.

"You can't park in Manhattan for $30," Gulino said.

In addition to those acts, there is a steady slate of entertainment opportunities at Buona Pasta.

Thursday evenings, the Bob Kaiser trio performs live jazz. According to Gulino, many talents from across the city and the Island show up with their instruments for impromptu jam sessions.

Then on Saturdays, retired detective Dave Arellano, a recent winner of the NYPD Idol competition, performs with his 6-year-old son, singing everything from Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble.

Gulino's favorite nights are the evenings with Elvis.

"[The impersonator] has an outrageous personality," he said. "He comes with a seven-piece band that's out of this world, and the women just go crazy."

But with such "incredible" food, why go to such lengths?

"I want to be a destination for people from all over Staten Island," said Gulino.

Located at 3935 Amboy Rd., Gulino's Buona Pasta is open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Its Web site is www.buonapastasi.com. Call 718-967-9385.

Jamie Lee is a reporter for the Staten Island Advance. He covers the West and South Shores and may be reached at jamielee@siadvance.com.